The space under the stairs often goes unused or, at the very least, unused to its full potential in most homes. This is a real shame: while it may only be a small space, it has a huge amount of potential that you can exploit to make the most of the space in your home. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the most important under stairs storage ideas that you can use to add more space to your home and create a small nook perfect for storing a wide range of belongings. Read on and find out more about how you can make your understair storage go further! Add Bookshelves Under the Stairs
One great addition to the space under the stairs is bookshelves. Bookshelves can be made to almost any size and shape, which means that they can fit into any understair space, no matter how big or small. If you’ve got a big collection of books, you’ll know how much space they can take up. Adding some bookshelves can remove a whole host of clutter from other areas around your home, freeing up space and making your home a far more inviting place to be. If you’d like to make the bookshelves flush, you can use screws or wood glue to firmly attach the bookshelves to the base of the stairs. You could also use this as an opportunity to make a reading nook for you and your family - throw a small seat in, some blankets and soft lighting, as well as a set of small shelves, and you will have a cosy and peaceful space to relax.Add an Area for Getting Ready
Getting ready to leave the house can take a lot longer than you expect sometimes. If you’ve got a child, you can double that time, as getting their shoes and coats on when they really don’t want to go out is an exercise in patience. One way to make it significantly easier is to have everything all in one place so that you can minimise the time for potential tantrums. If you’ve got either a cupboard or an empty space under your stairs, you can add a shoe rack and some hooks for coats. If you add a seat to your space, even a small one, you’ll be able to get prepped to go out as quickly as possible. This also gives you a place to store your shoes and coats so that they don’t take up as much space in your home - storage, and it’ll save you time? Fantastic!Add a Storage Bench
Storage benches are a fantastic way to add storage space to your home without making it unusable. A storage bench gives you somewhere to relax and rest while also adding a considerable amount of storage. What’s more, they come in a range of different sizes, which means that no matter how big or small your space under the stairs, design ideas have already been drawn up for a perfect bench. While storage benches may look a little plain to begin with, if you throw a blanket and some cushions on top, it will fit right into the rest of your home decor.Add Filing Cabinets to Store Away Your Documents
When you’re running a household, you accumulate a lot of documents. From credit card statements to tenancy agreements and much more, keeping your documents safe is very important. The best way to keep them safe is to have them in an organised filing cabinet, where you know that everything is safe, secure and easily accessible. Filing cabinets are ideal, of course, but if this isn’t a viable option, you can grab some shelving units, baskets and binders, which you can use to store everything. The key is organisation, no matter what you’re using to actually store the documents.Turn Your Cupboard Under the Stairs Into a Wardrobe
Provided that the cupboard under your stairs isn’t too humid, you can easily turn it into a wardrobe and store your clothes in there. To achieve this, you can add some clothes racks on wheels, allowing you to easily pull them out of the cupboard if there’s something that you need to get access to at the back. You can also buy folding clothes rails, which you can make into a more compact size for ease of use if you need to make some extra space or move some of your clothes into a storage unit. If you’re worried about humidity in your cupboard under the stairs, you can hang up some dehumidifiers on your rails, or put a small dehumidifier in the cupboard that you can leave running.Add a Small Home Office
Working from home is now far more common than in the pre-pandemic years. This means that having a home office is very important, it’s a great way to be more productive at home and get more of your work done. If you’ve got a decently-sized space under the stairs, adding a desk, shelving units and a cork board can make it easy to get work done in a sheltered, cosy space.Put These Understair Storage Tips Into Action and Enjoy
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this list of under stairs storage ideas and will use them to add a new area or just some extra space to your home. Whichever you opt for, you’ll be making good use of a previously unloved space. However, we recognise that space in your home is limited to a certain extent - if you decide that you need to have a clear out, ANVSJ is here to help. We offer personal storage units in a variety of sizes that you can use to make extra space in your home. For more information, or if you have any questions for us, feel free to get in touch. You can call us on 01709 701155 or email us at info@anvsj.co.ukUnder Stairs Storage FAQs
Does Under Stairs Storage Add Value to My House?
While there are few guarantees when it comes to house value, adding storage to a home can only be a good thing. If done tastefully, it could add notable value to your home.What Are the Easiest Ways to Add Storage to the Space Under My Stairs?
The easiest and cheapest ways to add storage to your home is to add hooks or shelving units. These can be used for many different purposes, and are a versatile addition to any space.
When you think of self-storage, you likely think of long-term self-storage. The sort of storage that you might use when you need to create some extra space in your home, where it will be stored away for years. However, short-term self-storage has some fantastic benefits that you can reap the rewards of. In this guide, we’ll have a closer look at why you should consider using short-term storage and when it can come in useful.Moving House
If you’re moving house, self-storage can be a real helping hand. When you’re between houses, knowing where to store your belongings can be tricky, especially if your previous home has been sold or the lease has expired. You can’t keep all your belongings with you at a hotel. Renting a self-storage unit for as little time as a week will give you a place to store all of your things with minimal fuss, allowing you to focus on the many jobs that come with a house move, before you worry about actually moving all of your belongings in. If you rent a storage unit for a little longer, say, a month, you could move bits and pieces of furniture etc into your new home piecemeal. This will turn what seems like a mammoth task into a collection of much smaller ones.Home Improvement
If you want to renovate your home, short-term storage is a great way to make the job easier. Having all of your belongings lying around in your home will make it tricky for you to complete renovations and could cause issues for any contractors who you hire. Putting all of your belongings away into short-term storage means more room in your home and, potentially, faster renovations. This advice is particularly handy when it comes to renovations like painting, where you’ll need to completely empty the room to avoid paint damaging your furnishings. Extensions are another ideal opportunity for using short-term storage, as brick dust and other contaminants will likely be walked through your home.A Midpoint for Students
Students often have to, effectively, live between cities, splitting their time between home and university. This can be difficult for a host of reasons, and the first trip to university is always a massive move, particularly if the student is going to a university on the other end of the country. Renting a student storage unit, then moving stuff from home to there before moving it onto the university, can cut the number of long drives that you’ll need. It’s a perfect way to make summer easier, too. Students typically return home during the summer holidays, and if they don’t already have a new house secured, they may not know what to do with their possessions. The best way to handle this is to rent a short-term storage unit until the new term starts, so they can be safe in the knowledge that their belongings are safe and sound.Divorce or Breakup
Breaking up with or divorcing from a long-term partner can be devastating, and figuring out the logistics of finding somewhere else to live can make it even worse. A short-term storage rental can help you a lot - if you just want to leave your shared home and stay in a hotel while you hunt for a flat, you need short-term storage. It also means that there doesn’t need to be an awkward exchange of belongings later on, allowing you to have a clean break from your ex. While it will likely not be the first thing on your mind during a breakup, renting short-term storage could help you have an easier time of it.A Place to Store Goods After a Disaster
If you’ve been unlucky enough to experience a disaster, such as a fire or flood, renting short-term storage is a great way to protect your belongings while you repair the damage to your home. For instance, if your home has flooded, but all your belongings on the top floor are safe, moving them into a short-term self-storage unit will give you the space that you need to get your home in order.Help Your Business Scale Up
Whether you’re starting a brand-new business from scratch or want to open up a new office, short-term business storage is a fantastic way to prepare. This means that you don’t need to wait until you’ve got your new office secured before buying what you need for the staff you’re going to employ. Simply store your business’ equipment or other goods in short-term storage, then move them to your new office when you’ve secured the lease. For new businesses, this can also be particularly handy if you’re currently working from a home office. Storing inventory in your home is not ideal - it takes up a lot of space and can create tripping hazards. This is often far cheaper than traditional warehousing, too, especially while you’re still establishing a brand.Event Planning
If you’re thinking of throwing an event at your party, such as a baby shower, birthday party or even a wedding reception, you’re going to need some space. All of the party favours and decorations will take up a lot of space! If you don’t want your home to resemble a party shop, you’ll want to hire some short-term storage to keep all of them in and free your home from clutter.The Many Uses of Short-Term Storage
Short-term self-storage is a fantastic option for everything from moving house, party planning or starting a new business! We hope that you’ve enjoyed this article and now understand the many benefits that self-storage can offer. If you’d like to contact us to assess whether it’s suitable for you, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!Short-Term Self-Storage FAQs
What Counts as Short-Term Storage?
Short-term storage is any storage that you use for three months or less. Longer than that, and it becomes long-term storage.What Is the Smallest Self-Storage Unit?
At ANVSJ, the smallest self-storage unit that we offer is 10 x 8 feet, or around 7.4 square metres. This can store up to 150 medium size boxes, which is about the size you would need to store the contents of a 1-bedroom flat or house.
We often think of a self-storage unit as something we use when moving house, when we need to store stuff long-term or if we’ve run out of space at home. However, personal storage is far from the only application for storage rental. Self-storage facilities have huge benefits for businesses, from reducing costs to helping your business expand. In this guide, we’ll have a look at just some of the biggest benefits storage can have for your business. Cost-Effective Storage
One of the biggest benefits that self-storage units offer for businesses is that they’re a highly cost-effective way to store your businesses’ items. If you run a small business, this is particularly significant: warehouse space can be costly, while ANVSJ’s business storage units start from £17.30 per week. If you run a larger business and need more space, don’t despair. Storage units come in all shapes and sizes, and can even accommodate the needs of larger businesses that need more room. If you are a sole trader, if you have stock that you sell from home or online, a storage unit is a compelling alternative to a traditional warehouse. Keeping stock and inventory safe will be a snip, and will be easy to access thanks to self-storage facilities’ convenient locations.Cuts Down on Relocation Hassle
Sometimes businesses need to relocate. Whether for good reasons or bad, moving your office can be a significant hassle. A self-storage unit can make relocation far easier. Let’s say that your business is moving offices, but you’ve got a period of time between your old lease expiring and your new one beginning. Instead of having to dash around finding places to store your goods, you can simply rent a self-storage unit and pack your things in there until your new office is ready. Relocations are often tough: storage can make it easier.A Self-Storage Unit Offers Increased Security
If you run a small business from your home or a small office, you may not have strong security measures in place to protect your company. This can be a serious problem. Self-storage facilities often have excellent security measures in place, such as CCTV cameras, so you can rest easy, knowing that your business and its goods are safe. Another significant safety feature of reputable self-storage companies is the presence of alarms. This combination can act as a strong deterrent to would-be thieves and solid evidence to give to police should the worst happen.Strong Scalability
If you want to expand into a new area but haven’t secured new premises yet, it can be difficult to know when to start hiring employees or moving goods to a new storage location. If you work with a self-storage company, you will be able to find a location near your new proposed location and move your goods. This means that when you’re ready to make the move, one logistical issue has already been taken care of! Some self-storage companies, such as ANVSJ, offer combinations of office space and storage, giving you a new location and storage in one easy package.You Can Improve Workplace Safety
Having large amounts of items and papers lying around in your office can cause a real safety hazard. Boxes of items can be trip hazards, while large collections of papers could increase the risk of fire. It’s easy to let things gather, and you might not realise the danger that a crowded business can pose until it's too late. To improve workplace safety, you need to make some space. The best way to do that, while still retaining everything that you need, is to rent a self-storage unit.Keep Copies of Your Documents Safe
Keeping your documents in order is a key part of running a business. Government regulations on record keeping are very strict, and you must keep records for six years. These documents take up space, there’s no two ways about it. While you may upload documents to the cloud and keep a hard copy in your office, it’s well worth keeping spare hard copies of your records in a safe location, in case of issues such as fires. Keeping your documents in a storage unit, with the appropriate protection from damp, is a great way to ensure your records are safe and in order.A Great Place to Store Tools
Some businesses need bulky tools to carry out their business, such as builders. Storing all of this equipment at home can take up a huge amount of space, if it’s even possible in the first place. Storing tools in a self-storage unit can make lots of space at home, while also allowing you easy access to the tools whenever you need them. Some very large storage units even allow for the storage of machinery like excavators or vehicles like trucks.You Can Store Seasonal Goods
Some goods and products sell far better in certain seasons. For instance, if you run a clothing company, scarves and gloves will sell better in autumn and winter than in the warmer months. Instead of buying these products when they’re in demand, it may be more cost-effective for your business to buy these goods in the seasons when there’s less demand, store them in a self-storage unit, and then sell them during the time of high demand.A Self-Storage Facility Can Be a Great Help for Your Business
Self-storage facilities are useful for far more than simply moving house. If you run a business, we hope that you now understand the massive benefits that storage rental can offer your company. At ANVSJ, we are experienced in working with businesses of all kinds - if you need any help or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can call us on 01709 701155 or email us at info@anvsj.co.uk.Business Self-Storage FAQs
Can I Store Anything in Self-Storage?
There are some restrictions on what you can and can’t store in a self-storage container, whether for personal or business use. For instance, at ANVSJ, we do not allow the storage of flammable or toxic materials.Is Self-Storage a Business Expense?
You can claim self-storage as a deduction on your taxes, provided that you only use it for business purposes.
Self-storage is a great way to free up some space and securely store things that you don’t use anymore. However, it’s important that you know how to manage your storage and make the most of it. In this guide, we’re going to look at mistakes you need to avoid and self-storage tips to bear in mind. 1. Picking the Wrong Size Unit
One of the most important things to remember, when hiring self-storage, is to pick the right unit size. There is a wide array of different sizes of storage unit available. For example, at ANVSJ, we have personal storage units that can hold the contents of a 1-bedroom flat all the way up to ones that can hold the contents of a 5-bedroom house! Picking a storage unit that’s too small will mean that you won’t be able to fit everything you need in it. This is especially frustrating as a lot of the time people don’t realise this until they’ve already started filling their unit. Alternatively, without due research, you could hire a unit that’s too big for your needs, and you’ll end up with storage going to waste and a higher bill. Our number one self-storage tip for this is to think carefully about how much storage you’re going to need. It’s better to err on the side of caution and get a slightly larger unit than you need, but ideally, you should try to find one that perfectly fits your items. If you’ve already boxed up your items, you can break out the tape measure and get an idea of how much space all of them take up, which can help considerably.2. Not Packing Properly
Proper packing practice is vital to keeping items safe in storage. For example, you need to take care to pack large and heavy items separately from lighter items, and mark them so that you can safely store them below lighter or more fragile boxes. It’s also worth bearing in mind that plastic boxes are far more hard wearing than cardboard boxes, and more resistant to leaks or other unforeseen issues that could arise. Ensure that they seal well and these should protect your goods without any issues. When it comes to fragile things, you should wrap them in bubble wrap or use packing peanuts or similar materials to keep them safe. Clearly mark the boxes as fragile so that you won’t forget which boxes need to be handled with extra care. When it comes to items that you can disassemble, you should always do so to save space. Best practices for packing, extend beyond packing up at home, though. For example, at the storage facility a handy self-storage tip you can use, is to place your boxes on pallets to raise them off the floor. This will help to keep pests off your belongings while also reducing the likelihood of water damage caused by a wet floor.3. Planning With Precision
Before you start moving your packed up stuff to your self-storage unit, you should draw up a plan. This is perhaps the most important self-storage tip of all - without a plan, you’ll be left floundering in the dark, trying to store items without a concrete idea of what you want the end result to look like. When drawing up a plan, you should start by making an inventory of everything that you’ve packed. This will help to ensure that you know where things are and what you’ve packed up, without having to dig through a load of different boxes. In addition to this, you should also consider marking your boxes with permanent marker so that you can tell what is in each box at a glance. Finally, you should consider which items you’re more likely to need quick access to. These should be stored closer to the front of your storage unit, while ones that you’re less likely to need can go to the back. 4. Not Taking up an Insurance Offer
One of the most important storage units tips and tricks that often gets overlooked, isn’t anything to do with packing your goods, or issues you can completely avoid. Instead, it’s about covering your belongings when they’re not under your roof. The owners of the storage facility aren’t liable for damage to your belongings, apart from under very stringent circumstances. While it’s unlikely that your belongings will be damaged while in storage, having contents insurance means that you won’t have to fork out too much, should that happen. Ensuring insurance covers your belongings in storage will give you peace of mind.5. Not Checking for Dampness Before You Pack
Damp can cause real issues when it comes to storage. If you pack damp items away in a box and store them with the rest of your belongings, you’ll likely end up with mould growing on your stored items and on boxes, which can cause permanent damage. Before you pack anything away, always check that it’s dry. If it’s even slightly damp, thoroughly dry it with a towel before packing it away.6. Storing Perishables
When you’re storing a wide variety of belongings and items from across the length and breadth of your home, you may come across bulky perishables. These could be large bags of grains such as rice or flour, or a wide range of other goods. Storing these in a storage unit might seem like an easy way to save space, but it’s a horrible idea. Leaving food or other perishables in a storage unit will likely lead to insect or vermin infestations, which is not only unhygienic, but could also cause severe damage to your belongings, as well as potentially resulting in a loss of your deposit and cleaning fees.7. Not Thoroughly Researching a Storage Company
Before you commit to a storage company, it’s important to do your research. Without adequate research, you will never know whether or not the company is the right one for you. For instance, do they have a number of locations? Are the facilities secured? What types of storage are available and for what types of customers? You should be able to find the answers to all of these questions on the company’s website. It’s also well worth checking online reviews for the company in question, on Google, Trustpilot, and any other review sites that you trust. If you’re going to entrust your belongings to a facility, you need to make sure that it’s run by a company that you can trust. Now You Can Be Confident With Your Storage
We hope that you’ve found this collection of self-storage tips helpful. Many of the mistakes can be avoided by buying well-made storage containers and planning your packing. You should also bear in mind that perishables and damp items should never be packed away in a storage unit, to avoid uncleanliness, vermin and damage to your belongings If you have any questions about hiring a personal storage unit, we’re here to help. You can contact us by phone at 01709 701155 or by email at info@anvsj.co.uk.Frequently Asked Questions
What are some storage tips and practices?
When it comes to self-storage, you should always pick the right size of unit, plan well, label your boxes, and remember not to store anything heavy on top of fragile objects.What is the best way to store things in storage?
Start from the bottom, then work your way up. You want to ensure that you start with heavier things on the bottom, then progressively add lighter and lighter boxes.
If you want to make your home a cosier place to be, knowing how to create a reading nook is a fantastic place to start. A small, peaceful space in your home where you can unwind and read adds so much to a home, and it’s quite easy to achieve too! In this guide, we’re going to give you some top tips about making a reading nook and how you can make the space for one. Ready to get started? Then read on! Define Your Reading Space
Before you can start piling books into your reading corner, you need to choose where in your home you’re going to read. A perfect reading nook is cosy and quiet, somewhere you can truly unwind after a hard day. Some great locations could be in any alcoves in your home, a corner of your lounge, or even in the space under the stairs. Once you have an area in mind for your cosy corner, you should define the space, and start making it your own. If the area already has items taking up space, you can use this opportunity to clear out some space and store them away. A fluffy rug is a great way to define the space as separated from the rest of your home, particularly one in a deep, dark shade.Add Some Seating and Storage
Choosing seating for a reading corner can be tricky. There are so many options to choose from! One classic example might be a wing back chair, or, if you’re able to find one, a porter’s chair for total isolation from the outside world. If you strive for a more modern vibe, a recliner would be an excellent option, or a love seat. If you have the space, a small sofa might also be ideal. A bean bag, that old bookshop favourite, is another option. Whichever type of seating you plump for, blankets or throws never go amiss. A side table is always a pleasant addition, perfect for resting a nice cup of tea or any other drink of your choice.Book Storage
Now that you’ve got your reading corner’s seating sorted, you need to consider where you’re going to store all your books! While many people use Kindles or other e-readers, sometimes you just can’t beat a real book. If you want to store plenty of books in your reading nook, you can’t beat a bookshelf. If, however, you’re dealing with a small space and want to just store a couple of books, there are many different compact storage solutions open to you. Coffee tables with shelving could be enough, or you may opt for a basket, a small storage unit that you can put under the seat, or fix a small shelf to your wall. Choosing furniture for your reading nook will, ultimately, come down to how much space you have to offer.Set the Mood With Some Lighting
Cosy corners are often quite dimly lit, which is obviously not ideal for reading, but adding too much light can take away from the cosy atmosphere that you’re trying to cultivate. The answer? Lamps. Lamps can add enough light to read while keeping the area cosy, and there’s a lamp to suit every reading nook under the sun. Anglepoise lamps are, of course, a classic, but standing lamps are another option that typically isn’t as harsh. If you’re trying to create that classy, old-school vibe, a Tiffany lamp, with its beautiful and colourful glass shade, will add a real touch of elegance. While originals are very expensive, you can purchase reproductions at much more affordable prices. Add a Touch of Colour
When it comes to reading corner design, at home you have such a wide range of possibilities available to you, particularly if you own your home. Painting the walls around your reading nook an attractive colour, such as wine red or a deep blue, can add so much extra cosiness to your new favourite spot. If you rent your home, don’t despair! There are a lot of other great ways to add some colour to your reading nook. For instance, putting up some posters with magnetic frames is a great way to add colour without altering or damaging the walls. Making the area your own is vital - decorations are key. You should also think about adding some keepsakes or items that have sentimental value to your nook.Conclusion
Adding a reading nook to your home is a fantastic way to add some extra cosiness. Having a space where you can always go to relax, rest and enjoy a good book is sure to help you relax. All you need is a small space that you can dedicate to reading. Once you’ve got one, you can define the space with plush furniture, a rug, decorate it to your heart’s desire, and start enjoying your new favourite spot.Having Trouble Making Space?
To create a reading nook, you ultimately need to have free space available in your home. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be hard to find. If you’re running out of free space in your home, we can help you. We offer personal storage containers in a range of sizes on secure sites, so you can free up some space while keeping your belongings safe. For more information, take a look around our site or get in touch with us today at 01709 701155 or email us at info@anvsj.co.uk.Making a Reading Nook FAQs
Why make a reading space?
Having a dedicated space for reading could help you enjoy reading more. Having a dedicated space for a hobby is a good way to help you to focus on the hobby, and reading is no different.How should I make a reading nook for kids?
If you have kids and want to encourage them to read, you can consider making your reading nook a more adventure-themed space. For instance, throwing a canopy or even a small tent into their reading nook can help them feel more like it’s a space just for them.
If you’re a fan of cars, you’re probably familiar with the idea of the barn find, the vehicle that’s sat in a barn for decades before being discovered. Yet what about storing vehicles in a dedicated storage unit for weeks, months or years? If you need to find storage units for cars, bikes, trucks, vans, or any other kind of vehicle, the prospect can seem daunting. In this guide, we’re going to have a look at the key considerations that you need to make when looking for storage units for vehicles. Is It Secure?
The most important thing with any storage is to make sure that the containers are secure. The containers must be lockable, but the entire site should also be secure, with CCTV and perimeter alarms are a must. This is the only way that you can be sure that your vehicle is safe from theft, damage or arson.A Convenient Location
When choosing a car storage facility, you should make sure that it’s at least relatively near you. The storage company’s locations should not be inaccessible to you, and you should be able to visit it within a reasonable amount of time. This makes it easy to perform maintenance, check on your vehicle, and move it as necessary without having it take up your whole day.ANVSJ’s Locations
All of ANVSJ’s storage facilities are located off major A roads or motorways, so you’ll have no problem finding a site that’s easy for you to access.Make Sure the Site Is Clean
A clean site reflects a high level of care. When you go to a storage facility, to see if it’s the right car self storage facility for you, take a look around and see whether the site is clean. If it’s dirty, you should consider whether the site takes proper care of its containers or not, and thus, your vehicle. Dirtiness can indicate more problems than simply not cleaning often enough - it could also indicate the presence of rodents, which could cause serious damage to your vehicle. If you don’t feel that they can be trusted with their site, would you trust them to take care of your storage container?Consider Your Budget
There is a wide range of different storage options available to you when it comes to vehicles. One of the most important factors to consider is your budget and how long you’re expecting to store the vehicle for. If you’re looking for long-term storage, even years of storage, you should ensure that you can afford to pay the storage company. It’s no good finding the very best site and then only being able to afford one month of storage. Think about your finances and how much you can honestly afford to pay, and for how long. Do You Need Indoor Storage?
Not every vehicle needs to be stored indoors. If you only need to store your vehicle for a short time, or if it’s a truck, which is less practical to store indoors, you may be better off opting for outdoor storage. You’ll still get the security benefits offered by indoor storage, as well as a clean site - but you might be able to save some money if you choose outdoor storage.Pros and Cons of Indoor vs Outdoor Vehicle Storage
When it comes to choosing storage, it can be hard to know whether indoor storage or outdoor is right for you. Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of these types of storage, to help you make the right decision for you.Pros and Cons of Indoor Vehicle Storage
- Pro: Indoor storage offers protection from the elements, keeping your car safe from rain, sun, hail and ice.
- Pro: An extra level of security - indoor storage should be lockable, giving a higher level of security than relying on the site’s security measures alone.
- Con: More expensive - indoor storage contracts a premium
Pros and Cons of Outdoor Vehicle Storage
- Pro: More cost-effective - outdoor storage is often a lower price than indoor storage, ideal for those on a budget
- Pro: Ideal for short-term storage, as weather conditions will not matter for this type of storage.
- Con: Exposure to the elements could cause damage to your car if you store it outdoors long-term.
Do You Need 24/7 Access?
Depending on your needs, you may or may not need around the clock access to your stored vehicle. For instance, if you are likely to need access to your van at short notice, having 24/7 access to the storage site is of the utmost importance. Similarly, if you need regular access to perform maintenance and will only be available at night, instant access is very important.Do You Have Confidence in the Company?
The final thing to consider is, perhaps, the most difficult to pin down - do you trust and have confidence in the storage company? This will mean different things to different people, but it’s something you always want to have when you’re handing a company your vehicle for storage. If something doesn’t feel right, if you don’t have complete confidence in the company, you should trust your instincts and look elsewhere. If you’re questioning whether this storage company is right for you, consider looking at online reviews. Google the business and look at reviews on their listing or check Trustpilot.Useful Tips When Using Storage Units For Cars
Before you store your vehicle, it’s important to know the best practices of storing one, so that you can minimise maintenance and keep it running smoothly. In this section, we’re going to have a look at what you need to do before storing your car or other vehicle.Don’t Leave the Handbrake On
While it may seem like a good idea to engage your car’s handbrake before you leave it in storage, this can cause issues with your brakes long-term. Leaving the pads in contact with the brake discs for too long can cause them to get stuck together.Cover Your Vehicle
If you’re leaving your vehicle in storage long-term, a hard-wearing cover is essential. A bike or car cover can protect the vehicle from weather damage or moisture. Make sure that you secure the cover firmly, as winds can whip them off if not properly secured. Be mindful not to use a plastic tarpaulin - opt for a stretchy and soft material to avoid damaging your vehicle’s paintwork.Stop Animals Nesting In Your Exhaust
If animals decide to nest in your exhaust, they can damage your vehicle. Thankfully, it’s easy to stop them. All you need to do is put clean rags or other cloths into your exhaust pipe. Be mindful not to push them in too far, or you may have issues getting them out again.Fill It Up
Before you leave your vehicle in storage, it’s recommended to brim the fuel tank. If you’re going to store it long-term, you should also add a fuel preservative.Prevent Rust
Rust can cause serious issues with vehicles and damp climates, such as the UK’s, provide ideal rusting conditions. To prevent rust, spray any areas of your vehicle that are going to be exposed with WD40 or another lubricant.Check Your Oil Before You Leave Your Vehicle
Over time, any contamination in your vehicle’s oil can cause damage to your engine. The best way to prevent this is by checking your vehicle’s oil before you put it into storage. If you’ve had the oil in your engine for a while, it’s probably best to swap it out for clean oil and change your oil filter before you store it.Conclusion
We hope that this article has been helpful! Storing a vehicle can seem like a big commitment, but by following the advice in this article, you’ll be able to find the right storage facility for your needs. You should also know how to decide whether you need indoor or outdoor storage, and know what you need to do to your vehicle before you put it into storage. To summarise, you should look for a storage company that offers facilities near you, that are secure, well-priced, clean, and that are within your budget.Do You Need to Store a Vehicle?
If you need to store a vehicle, ANVSJ can help you. We offer vehicle storage solutions for everything from bikes to trucks in Rotherham, Sheffield, Market Rasen, Brigg, Goole and Chesterfield. For more information, you can contact us via email at info@anvsj.co.uk or by phone at 01709 701155.Storage Units for Vehicles FAQs
It’s normal to have a lot of questions when it comes to finding the right storage units for cars or other vehicles. In this section, we’ll answer some of the most common questions people have about vehicle storage.What Size Storage Unit Do I Need for a Vehicle?
This will depend quite significantly on the size of the vehicle in question. However, as a rough guide, you will need 3m x 6m of storage to comfortably fit a car, while a van or lorry will need more. At a push, however, a 3 m x 3 m container will fit most cars.How Much Do Storage Units for Vehicles Cost?
The price of storage units for vehicles will depend on several factors, such as the size of the vehicle being stored, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, how long you intend to leave it for, and where the storage facility is located. At ANVSJ, we have vehicle storage units available that start at £15 per week.7 Shelf Organisation Ideas to Make the Most of Your Kitchen Space
Are you struggling to make the most of space in your kitchen? If so, getting organised can help. Organising shelves allows you to make the most of a small space, with a place for everything and everything in its place. A common question is where to start with shelf organisation. It can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve got a lot of different shelves to organise. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the best shelf organisation ideas and help you turn your ideas into reality.Categorise Your Kitchen
Before we begin, it’s a good idea to think about the different categories of items that are in your kitchen. If you’re a keen cook, you likely have spices, dry goods, tins, jars, and more! Knowing where to store all of these is a great place to start. Rather than having them all mixed in a muddle, think about how to group these items together. For instance, for a neater kitchen, grouping your herbs, spices and other seasoning together is a must. Not only will it help you find them more easily, but if you choose to categorise further, for instance, by colour, you’ll have a more aesthetically pleasing space as well! Other categories for you to consider include:- Dry goods, such as flour, pasta and rice
- Tinned goods
- Snacks
- Wet Ingredients
Time for a Clear-Out?
While you’re categorising your kitchen, take the opportunity to take a look at the use-by dates on the food in your kitchen. Maybe there’s an old tin of something lying in the back of the cupboard that’s now just taking up space! If you find anything that’s out of date, now’s the time to throw it away and make some more space. This is an especially important step in small kitchens, where space is at a premium.1. Buy a Shelf Organiser
Buying a kitchen shelf organiser is a great way to maximise your shelf space. It may seem strange since you’re adding an extra item to your kitchen, but these handy little devices can really help. In the realm of kitchen shelf organisers, there are a variety of different types available, with one great example being the spice organiser. A spice organiser often comes with clips that allow you to attach them to the back of a cupboard door or the side of a cupboard or fridge. A spice shelf is, in essence, a wire shelf that allows you to store a row of spice jars on each shelf, with wire or another material at each end to stop them from falling off. Some models offer one shelf per organiser, while others offer multiple tiers, which is useful if you love to cook dishes from around the world. Another area of the kitchen for you to turn your shelf organisation skills to is the fridge. Fridges can be chaotic places, so bring some order to them by buying fridge organisers! These divide the shelves up into smaller, discrete compartments, which lets you organise different goods into different parts of the shelves, keeping everything ordered.2. Organise Your Dry Goods
Now that you’ve sorted out your fresh produce and spices, it’s worth considering how you’re going to go about organising your dry goods. Things like pasta, rice, and flour can take up a lot of space and require airtight storage to lower the likelihood of accidentally handing over your pantry to weevils and moths. Jars and canisters are your friends here. Instead of making do with bulky bags of sugar, flour, pasta and rice, decant them into elegant glass jars with an airtight lid, then store them away in the cupboard. Depending on the size of the jar and the size of your cupboard, you may be able to store them either horizontally or vertically, whichever you prefer.3. Organise Crockery and Pans
The third step that you should take, when organising your kitchen, is to organise the crockery, pots and pans. These items take up a lot of space in the kitchen cupboard, and while you may have a cabinet for these items, overspill is common.
Crockery
If this sounds like you, you should consider how you can minimise the space that these items take up. If you have a large cupboard for your crockery, but without any definitive structure (other than, for instance, larger pieces on the bottom and smaller ones on top), you should have a look at buying a kitchen shelf organiser for the cupboards. These are small wire racks that have several tiers along their height, which lets you separate crockery by size, set, or any other criteria. For cups and mugs, if there’s any space left in your cabinet, you may wish to consider installing hooks, allowing you to hang your mugs for easy access. Failing that, a mug tree lends a great retro look to any kitchen.Pots and Pans
Pots and pans can be a tricky proposition. Stacking can be an easy way to minimise how much space they take up, but be careful! Nesting the pots and pans can lead to scratches, so you need something between the bottom of one pot and the surface of another. If your pots don’t have feet, you will likely need to buy pot protectors, but a tea towel can also work in a pinch. Another option is to install hooks in your kitchen and hang your pans from the wall. While this isn’t an efficient way to use your space, it can add a rustic feel to your kitchen, which might be a worthy exchange, depending on your priorities.4. Tins, Snacks and More
Now that you’ve got a lot of your pantry organised, it’s time to have a look at what you need to do with your tins, snacks and other miscellaneous kitchen items. One easy rule to remember, when it comes to organisation, is if you can stack something, stack it! Tins are particularly good for this. Even in smaller cupboards, you should be able to stack a couple of tins to create more space. For snacks and other items in your cupboard, you could grab a kitchen storage rack or basket to keep your food separate. One rack could be for snacks, another for tins, and another for soups, and so on. Racks or baskets are a great shelf organisation tool for things like teabags and coffee, too.5. Larger Appliances
The task of storing larger kitchen appliances like slow cookers, air fryers and the like is a tough one for even a seasoned kitchen organiser. These items take up a lot of space and don’t tend to be particularly stackable. So, what should you do?
One easy option for storing larger appliances is to buy a larger kitchen storage rack with big openings, such as some cube storage units. These tend to be large enough to fit larger appliances with ease. If you don’t have the room for a cube storage unit, you may want to look up. There’s often vertical space going empty in kitchens, be it on top of shelves, fridges, or somewhere else. You may want to grab a stepladder and store something up above head height, particularly if you don’t use it regularly. Do make sure that the appliance is securely stored and not blocking any vents, however. 6. Knives, Forks, Spoons and Utensils
Cutlery, like knives, forks and spoons, are used every day, so they need to be within easy reach in the kitchen. Storing them in a drawer near your cooker or dining table is ideal, but we’d recommend that you grab an organiser for your drawer, if it doesn’t have one already. Leaving cutlery to lie on a drawer’s bare surface tends to make it grimy. For utensils, organisation is easy. Put the ones that you use the least in a drawer, complete with an organiser. For utensils that you often use, we’d recommend storing them in a large metal utensil holder, next to your prep area.7. Create a Prep Space
Speaking of a prep space, it’s a good idea to make sure that one surface in your kitchen is consistently clean and free of clutter. Whether you love cooking or prefer not to, having a space that is ready to use makes the process far easier. It also makes clean up a breeze, as everything that you need to wash or put in the dishwasher is right there, ready to be cleaned. Still Not Got Enough Space?
All the kitchen shelf organisation skills in the world can only take you so far. If you don’t have enough space in your kitchen, you may need to dispose of some items or, if you don’t want to part with them, put them into storage. If you decide to store items from your kitchen, we can help you. We offer personal storage at a price to suit you, no matter the size of your home. Interested in making some more space in your home by storing unused items? Get in touch with us today!Shelf Organisation Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Most Efficient Way to Organise My Kitchen?
It can be tough to know where to start with kitchen organisation. We’d recommend working in zones, going area by area, such as starting with the fridge, then the drawers, then the worktops. When organising these zones, try and group items that will be used together, for example, keeping your utensils together.How Should I Keep Shelves Neat?
When you take something off the shelf, put it back in the same space. As you add more to your shelves, always add to an appropriate area. Try to limit how much you purchase if your shelves are nearly full, sometimes a “less is more” approach can help keep things neat and tidy.
Decorating your house is an exciting time, it lets you personalise and design your home to match your tastes, routine and lifestyle. However, without proper planning, the process of renovating your house can become lengthy, expensive and stressful. In this article, we’re going to go over some tips which will help make decorating your house much easier and enjoyable.Create a Plan For Decorating Your House
The first step to making decorating your house easier is to get a good plan in place. You’ve probably heard of the expression: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”, which is definitely the case when renovating your home. Not having a good plan in place can make the decorating process confusing, stressful, and more expensive.Find Inspiration
Before starting anything else, find inspiration and examples of other people’s houses and room designs. This will help you determine what you like, don’t like, and what general direction you want to go with your decorating. Look at examples online from sites such as Pinterest, go to showrooms, or visit home and hardware stores that have example rooms on display, such as Ikea or B&Q. Make sure to take photos, save links, and write down which elements you like for different rooms, so you don’t forget what design elements you liked.Take Measurements
The next step in your planning process should be to measure the width, length, and height of the rooms and spaces that you want to decorate, being sure to write your measurements down. This will help you determine how much space you have to work with, and will let you know if big pieces of furniture, such as beds, cupboards, and drawers will fit. This can save a lot of stress of trying to figure out how to get a combination of items to fit in one room, and stops needless shifting and shuffling of furniture. In the worst-case scenario, not measuring your space can result in wasted money if something can’t fit.Create a Floor Plan
Now that you’ve measured the rooms you intend to decorate, and have the measurement of existing/new furniture, you can now create a floor plan, which will help you to visualise the layout of a room. This will give you a rough idea of how a room will look and how various pieces of furniture will fit together, highlighting any issues such as wasted space or over cramped areas. Creating a floor plan can be as simple as drawing the sides of a room, from a top-down perspective, and writing the measurements along each side. Or you can use free software online to create digital floor plans that you can edit and play around with easily.
Tape Out Your Floor Plan
Once you’ve created a floor plan, you can then use masking tape to “draw” the outlines of furniture and objects you plan to place in a room. Use the measurements you made to ensure the shape and size of an object is accurate, and then place it in the spot you’ve designed on your floor plan. This will help to give you a “real life” perspective on how a room’s layout might look. Because masking tape is made to be taken off surfaces without causing damage, you can move your furniture outlines around the room to see how different layouts look and feel.How Do You Want to Live?
An important step when creating a plan to decorate your house is to consider your lifestyle and how you like to use certain rooms. If you’re the type of person that likes to host friends and family for dinner, then creating a space focused on dining/entertaining should be the direction you aim for. However, if you rarely eat at home or have large groups over for dinner, investing a lot into a dining room makes less sense. Remember, this is your home, so you should decorate it to suit your lifestyle and preferences.Create a Realistic Budget
An important part of your house renovating plan is your budget. There is no use finding a perfect piece of furniture or art, for example, if it is going to eat 90% of your budget, leaving not much for the rest of your room. Decide on a realistic budget and how many/what items you’re going to need for a given room. Part of this should include the function of each room, for example, in a bedroom a bed is the main element, which should be reflected in the percentage of the budget it takes up. However, if you also need to buy a wardrobe and bedside tables, you need to make sure your budget covers all that, meaning you might have to choose a less expensive bed option. It’s worth noting for each room what is more important to you, as that will determine what elements you can and can’t compromise on.Make The House Renovating Process Easier
Now that you have a solid plan in place for any rooms you want to decorate in your house, it’s time to get started. There are a few tips that you should consider which make the process of renovating homes much easier.Double Check You Have Everything
This is as simple as it sounds. No one likes getting started with decorating a room, only to find that they’re either missing something or don’t have enough of something. Avoid unwanted trips to the hardware store by double-checking you have everything you need, and the right amounts of it, before you start decorating. This could include things like paint, plastic sheets, tools, various screws, or materials needed such as wood, to name a few.Empty Your Rooms
One of the best tips that makes decorating any room significantly easier is to empty the room as much as you can. If there are any pieces of furniture, decorations or other items you can move to somewhere else, it’s worth doing so. Having an empty room makes decorating much easier, especially if you’re doing work such as painting, sanding or any other messy work. Not only does this give you more space to place tools and work in, but also means the chances of your belongings being damaged or dirtied are much lower.Get The Messy House Decorating Done First
Grouping up and getting all the messy decorating tasks done first will save you a lot of time and effort in the long-run. If you followed the previous tip, it means you don’t need to move furniture multiple times and also means it doesn’t if you make a bit of a mess, as other tasks will also add to it. Then you can do one big clean up at the end, rather than multiple cleaning sessions after each job. The caveat to this is you should clean up any mess that could be a safety hazard. Messy decorating jobs can include:- Plaster boarding
- Painting
- Woodwork
- Poly filler/Repairing surfaces
- Putting up wallpaper
Additional House Decorating Tips
Paint The Walls With Light and Neutral Colours
Painting your walls with light and neutral colours can help to make rooms feel bigger and brighter, which generally feels more inviting and appealing. This especially applies to smaller rooms, as it can make them feel less claustrophobic. Lighter paint makes use of natural light by reflecting it more than a darker colour would, which helps rooms to be brighter and feel less gloomy.
An additional benefit of using a consistent palette of lighter colours is that it can make going from room to room feel less jarring, and makes the look of your house more cohesive. Typically, when choosing colours, pick your “base” colour which will cover areas such as landings and hallways. Then you can go a shade or two towards a different colour, which will add some variety and personality to your rooms, while still adding to the cohesive feel. Consider Conversational Placement For Sofas and Chairs
When deciding on the layout of your sofas and chairs, it’s worth keeping in mind the intent of the room. If you’re designing a living room that is made for guests to sit in when they visit, then placing chairs and sofas in a “conversational” arrangement will help to make chatting and looking at each other easier. An easy way to think about how to do this is to look at examples such as hotel lobbies or sitting areas. Sofas and chairs often face each other so that everyone sitting in the room can see and chat with each other easily. Of course, if you’re decorating your room to be more of an entertainment room, with the focus being on watching TV, films or playing video games, then conversational placement is less important.Sometimes Less is More
When decorating a house, it can be easy to get excited and keep adding new things to a room. Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back and checking if the space feels too crowded or full. Sometimes the effective use of a few elements can be much more appealing than filling a room. Don’t be afraid of some empty space because when used well, it can make a room feel bigger and more spacious. It can be a fine line between “less is more” and a room feeling empty. So, experiment by adding/removing items until you get a look that you’re happy with.
Utilise Mirrors
Adding a good-sized mirror to a room when decorating is a great way to make a room feel bigger and brighter. The mirror will not only reflect light, making the space feel less gloomy, but will also “reflect the room”, which is a decorating trick which makes a room feel much bigger than it actually is. This can be especially effective with smaller spaces, making them feel less cramped. It’s worth noting the position of the mirror in relation to direct sunlight, it can be annoying if direct sunlight is reflected into your eyes while sitting down or on TV screens, creating glare.Create More Work Space With a Personal Storage Unit
We’ve already mentioned the benefits that emptying a room can give when it comes to renovating your house. However, if you have a lot of furniture and belongings, it can be difficult to find space to keep them all while you decorate. In situations like this, choosing to use a service that offers Personal Storage Units, can be a great way to temporarily free up your home when decorating, giving you the space you need without cluttering up the rest of your house. Additionally, keeping your belongings in a self-storage unit will make sure they remain safe, clean, and in good condition while you decorate. At ANVSJ, we offer a range of affordable, different sized units for self-storage, starting from just £17.30 a week. And with multiple locations across the country that you can access at any time, there is sure to be a personal storage unit which suits your needs. For more information on our self-storage units, visit our website today.Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start when decorating my house?
Before doing any decorating, getting a solid plan in place will help to make the process much easier, less stressful and possibly cheaper. Plan decorating your rooms around the large statement pieces of furniture first, such as beds, sofas and large tables. This will let you know how much room and budget you will have left to work with. You can then start adding additional elements to compliment the main piece. Try not to take up too much of your budget with one item because it may leave no room for other decorations you want.What order do you decorate your house?
Start decorating by getting the messy tasks out the way. This can include painting, plaster boarding, and any woodwork. When painting, start with the ceiling, as this will avoid any splashes of paint on freshly painted walls or other surfaces. Then proceed to do the skirting boards, windows/door frames and the doors. After painting, you can then start placing furniture in the layout you want. Remember to try and make the room’s design and colour palette feel cohesive.Your small kitchen ideas don’t have to be restricted by the limited space you have. With some creative thinking, smart planning, and utilising clever design choices, you can create your dream kitchen that is both stylish and functional. Smart small kitchen ideas make the most of the existing space you have while making the space somewhere you want to socialise and cook in.10 Small Kitchen Ideas to Make The Most of Your Space
To make the most of your limited floor space, you can implement some smart kitchen ideas that focus on making efficient use of your existing space. Along with making smart choices in your kitchen’s layout and functionality, there are several creative decorating choices you can make that help to make a smaller kitchen feel bigger and more open.1. Design Your Kitchen Around Windows
Smaller kitchens can sometimes feel a little bit dark and cramped, especially if you have dark finishings, cupboards, and surfaces. When designing a small new kitchen, making the design revolve around windows and natural lighting can help to brighten up the space. Opting to incorporate roof windows or skylights can make a smaller room feel much taller, by opening up the ceiling and flooding the room with natural light. An additional benefit of having roof windows or skylights integrated into your kitchen is that they can be opened to increase the natural ventilation in the room, which can be useful to help clear smoke or steam when cooking. It’s important to remember with any kitchen ideas you want to implement, that apart from style, they should be functional and suit your lifestyle too.2. Make Use of Built-In Appliances
When you have a small kitchen, typically, you need all the floor space you can get. Utilising built-in appliances when you can help to make your kitchen feel less visually cluttered, and frees up more floor space. While built-in appliances do free up floor space, it does come at the cost of taking up more cupboard space, so you might need to start using some smarter storage methods in conjunction with this.3. Use Smart Storage
Utilising savvy storage ideas when designing a small kitchen is key. Building shelves on your walls can be a great way to gain additional storage for your kitchen, without taking up floor space or room on your countertop.
Another great way to save room on your countertop is to install a rail onto one of your walls, which can be combined with hooks so that you can store large cooking utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, and ladles. Additionally, if you opt to use a bench against a wall for some of your seating, you can make use of storage under the bench too. Finding any little ways to make items multipurpose will help you to maximise your small kitchen space without making it feel cluttered.4. Focus on Building Up
With small kitchens, space is a precious commodity, yet people often don’t make enough use of the vertical space they have. That's why, when it comes to thinking of ideas for your small kitchen, making use of your kitchen’s vertical space is the way to go. Having appliances in-built and stacked on top of each other can save a lot of counter space, a common example of this you see in kitchens is a microwave placed above an oven.5. Use Lighter Colours
We already mentioned how using roof windows can help to make your kitchen feel brighter and more open. This effect can be amplified when used in combination with painting your kitchen in a lighter colour scheme.
Lighter colour walls and surfaces reflect more light than darker surfaces, which can make even smaller rooms feel bigger, and more inviting. This effect isn’t just limited to your walls, but also your countertops and cupboards. The more surfaces that are light in colour, the more effectively the room will reflect light. Something to bear in mind is if you have glossy surfaces, as these surfaces will reflect light but could also result in glare from your indoor lighting. To get around this, you could opt for matted surfaces.Natural Shades
Using lighter colours doesn’t just limit you to white or off-white. It is currently trendy in modern kitchens to utilise natural shades and materials, such as light woods or lighter stone colours. This can help your kitchen to feel more natural, which compliments natural lighting.6. Utilise Vertical Lines
A clever small kitchen idea you can implement which makes a room feel bigger is making use of vertical lines that lead to the ceiling. These vertical lines naturally draw the eye upwards, towards the ceiling, which makes the ceiling's height feel much taller than it actually is. Another benefit of this is that eyes are drawn to the patterns on the wall too, so can help to distract from any clutter in your kitchen. This can be achieved by decorating your walls with wallpaper or tiles, or by having cupboards that feature vertical lines or indents.7. Flooring That Works For Small Kitchens
When it comes to your kitchen floor, you’ve probably thought about it needing to be functional, such as being hard-wearing and easy to clean. But what you’ve probably not thought about is how the floor in your kitchen impacts how big the room feels. But choosing the right type of flooring can make a surprising difference. When coming up with small kitchen ideas, include a floor that is lighter in colour, but also features a larger pattern, for example, large tiles.8. Organise Your Cutlery
Investing in a cutlery drawer divider is a cheap and great way to not only keep your drawer nice and tidy, but also can be used to store utensils that you might have previously kept in a pot on your countertop. It might not seem like a big ‘hack’ to help maximise your kitchen’s space, but utilising a number of these smaller hacks can result in a big difference.9. Go Handless
In recent years, more and more people have been implementing handleless cupboards and drawers in their kitchens. This is because it has less visual ‘clutter’ without the handles being present, as well as creating a ‘smoother’ finish across the overall kitchen. This concept works well for small kitchen designs, as the minimalistic look helps the room to feel less busy, and when used in combination with other ideas on this list, can make your small kitchen feel more open.10. Sometimes Less is More
When planning your new kitchen layout and design, it’s worth remembering that sometimes less is more. It can be easy to try to get excited about building your new kitchen and try to include too many features and ideas you’ve seen. But in a smaller space, it can sometimes make the room feel too busy and cluttered. It’s worth experimenting with taking away certain decorations and seeing how it impacts the room.Use Personal Storage While You're Decorating
While you’re decorating your new kitchen, especially if you’re working with limited space, it is recommended to move anything you don’t need out of the room. This not only gives you more space but stops your belongings from being damaged or dirtied during the remodelling process. For times like these, choosing to use a personal storage unit can be very helpful, giving you the space you need that guarantees your belongings stay in great condition. Here at ANVSJ, we have a wide range of personal storage units you can use for both long and short terms, starting from as little as £17.30 per week. We supply our storage units in a number of different locations across the country. See how we can help make remodelling your small kitchen easier today.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-shaped kitchen for a small space?
The U-shaped layout is considered the best choice for kitchens, even in small areas, as this maximises the amount of floor space you get. While this design may result in two deep corner cabinets, innovative cabinet additions like sliding storage units, or L-shaped shelving can effectively maximise storage in these previously challenging areas.What colour is suitable for a small kitchen?
With a small kitchen, opting to choose lighter colours is typically more suitable. This is because the lighter colours will help to make the room feel bigger and more open by reflecting light when compared to a darker colour. This effect is increased when combined with many windows so that lots of natural light can be introduced and reflected.Storing sports equipment can be inconvenient. It often takes up a lot of space, particularly for things we can only use at certain times of the year. Some equipment is much more delicate than others and storing away correctly often takes a little prep work - however, it will be worth it in the long run. In this post, we go through how to make sure your sports gear is stored properly to make sure it is kept in good condition and lasts as long as possible.
Golf club storage
How to prepare your golf clubs for storage
Ensure each club is cleaned properly with warm water and a towel, ideally a microfibre cloth. Scrub off any grass stains, dirt, or marks off and make sure they are completely dry before storing to prevent rust damage. When you have prepared your clubs for storage, it is important to keep them in a cool, dry place when not in use. A good place people store their clubs is in their garage or shed at home. If your garage reaches freezing temperature in winter, this can sometimes cause the grips to dry out and harden or crack. During the winter periods, it may be worthwhile considering storing them in a storage facility to ensure they are protected properly and to save some space.Can I store my golf clubs in my car?
Golf clubs should never be stored in the boot of your car - even if it is just for a few days. For starters, they can easily pick up dints and scratches whilst moving around in the back as you drive around. Secondly, car boots and get very hot, particularly on sunny days. This can cause the glue on the grip to lose strength over time, along with the epoxy that keeps the head attached to the shaft.How to store your golf clubs properly
- Always make sure the clubs are clean before storing
- After cleaning the clubs, ensure they are dried properly to prevent rust
- Store your golf bags upright to reduce the risk of getting them knocked over
- Ensure they are stored in a cool, dry place (but not freezing)
Bike storage
How to prepare your bike for storage
To make sure your bike is ready for storage, take off all of your water bottles, accessories, and any devices. Store these in a warm, dry place to make sure they are preserved properly. Make sure the bike is properly cleaned, leaving no dirt or grime on there that could cause corrosion. Next, after cleaning the bike, it is important to lubricate the chain and cables. This provides additional protection on parts of the bike that can be particularly vulnerable to damages. Finally, pump the tires up, even if you won't be riding for a while. This helps to make sure the tyres preserve their shape without any deformations. If storing your bike inside without hanging, it is better to not rest it on a concrete floor such as a basement or garage as concrete can draw moisture from the tyres.Can I hang my bike on its wheels?
Bike wheels are designed to withstand weights much more than that of a bike frame, so this is absolutely fine to store a bike hanging by its wheels. In fact, this is often best practice as there is no pressure being placed on the tires.Can I store my bike outdoors?
This should only ever be the case if you have no other options. If your bike is new or high-end, it is likely to have better protection in outdoor conditions. If it is an older bike or cheaper bike, however, it could have parts more likely to corrode due to seals being worn out easier. If you are going to store your bike outside, use a cover to protect it from rain and moisture and maintain it regularly. If you know you won't be using it for a while, think about using a self-storage unit to make sure it is kept safe.How to store your bike properly
- Give your bike a good clean to prevent corrosion
- Lubricate the chain and cables
- Pump up the tires to prevent flat sports and other deformities
- Remove water bottles, lights, and any other accessories
- Use a cover when storing outdoors
- Hang by the wheels if possible
- Avoid resting the tyres on concrete floors
Kayak and paddle board storage
How to prepare your kayak or paddle board for storage
Start by making sure your kayak or paddle board equipment is cleaned and dried properly. Make sure all the salt, grime, grit or dirt is removed. If you are storing for a short while you can rinse it using fresh water, but for longer periods it would be better to clean with soap or another cleaning product. It is always a good idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations. Next, you need to dry it - using a microfibre towel would be ideal for this. It is better to not leave it in direct sunlight. It is important to make sure everywhere is dried before storage to prevent mould growing. It is recommended to store a kayak or paddleboard inside to protect it against the elements, alongside animals and insects. Try to find a cool, dry place such as a shed or garage if possible.Can you store your kayak or paddle board outside?
You can store your kayak or paddle board outside if you absolutely have to, but this is not recommended. Try to keep it covered up, out of the sun, and preferably off of the ground if storing outside.How to store your kayak or paddle board properly
- Wash the paddleboard of all salt, grit, dirt and grime
- Ensure it is dried correctly to prevent mould
- Store out of sunlight and off the ground
Home gym storage
How to prepare gym equipment for storage
It's important to clean and wipe down your gym equipment before storing it away. If you are tight on space, it might be helpful to store smaller bits and bobs such as weights or resistance bands in a container or box. Larger equipment, such as treadmills or similar, should be stored in a dry area like a garage or basement if possible.Can I store my gym equipment outside?
This depends on what the equipment is. It is recommended to not store anything with any moving parts outside, as the moisture can get in the cracks of these and form rust. It is however possible to store certain gym equipment outdoors if maintained correctly - however storing inside would generally be much better.How to store gym equipment properly
- Clean and wipe down the equipment before storing
- A cool dry place such as a garage is ideal to store
- You can use protective products such as WD40 to prolong the life of your equipment
Ball sports storage
How to prepare ball sports equipment for storage
For storing ball sports equipment such as football, rugby, and basketball, it is first a good idea to ensure the ball is cleaned and dried properly. Let a little air out of the ball before storing it away to make it last longer when you are actually using it. For equipment such as football goals, basketball hoops, and similar, these also should be cleaned and dried thoroughly and stored in a cool dry place when not in use.How to store football, basketball, and rugby equipment
- Clean before use, deflate ball slightly if applicable
- Ensure everything is dry before storing away
- Keep in a cool, dry place such as a garage or shed
Sports racket storage
How to prepare racket sports equipment for storage
It is recommended to clean and remove the strings from tennis or badminton rackets before storing them. It's best to place them in a carrying bag or case and store them in a dry area such as a garage or shed. For larger equipment such as table tennis tables, renting a storage unit can provide convenient and secure storage.How to store your tennis and badminton equipment
- Ensure everything is cleaned and dried correctly
- Make sure nothing could be applying pressure to the springs if they haven't been removed
- Store in a cool dry place, ideally a racket bag if possible
Baseball and cricket equipment storage
How to prepare your cricket and baseball equipment for storage
Make sure your bats, balls, and other bits and pieces are all cleaned properly to prevent any mould growing. For baseball equipment such as gloves and balls, wipe them clean and keep them in a bag. For cricket equipment like bats and pads, wipe them down and store them in a well-ventilated area. Make sure all your gear is dry before putting it away.How to store your cricket and baseball equipment
- Clean the equipment with a damp cloth, removing any dirt or mud stains
- Make sure all the equipment is dried properly
- Store in a dry area away from sunlight and humidity
Ski and snowboard storage
How to prepare ski and snowboard equipment for storage
To store snow sports equipment like snowboards and skis, wipe them down to remove any dirt or debris, or anything else that could make it dirty. It might be worth applying a coat of wax to protect the base and edges before storing them. When ready for storage, put them in a dry and cool location, such as a garage or storage unit.How to store ski and snowboarding equipment
- Wipe down your equipment to remove any dirt
- Dry your ski and snowboard equipment properly
- Use wax to protect your equipment and prolong its lifespan
- Store in a cool, dry place when finished
When to store your sports equipment
In addition to storing different types of sports equipment, it is important to consider when and why you may need to store them. For example, snow sports equipment can be stored in summer when it is not being used, while outdoor sports equipment may be stored during the winter months. Students may also need to store their equipment whilst moving in between properties or outside of term time. Self-storage units can be a great option for secure and convenient storage.
Why you should consider a storage unit for sports equipment
Storing your sports gear takes a bit of preparation, but it's well worth the effort. By following the tips above, you can keep your sports gear in good condition and make sure it lasts as long as possible. Consider using storage facilities like self-storage units to make the process more convenient and organised. With proper storage, your equipment will be ready and waiting for your next adventure.Storing your sports equipment with ANVSJ
We have various storage facilities spread across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire to cater for your needs. Our locations include Sheffield, Chesterfield, Rotherham, Goole, Brigg, and Market Rasen. With plenty of options available, we are able to offer an affordable sports equipment storage solution.Why choose ANVSJ?
24/7 Access
Certain sites have 24/7 access and all depots accommodate articulated lorries.
Lowest Prices
Lowest prices in the country all located on major ‘A’ roads and motorways.
Secure Alarm & CCTV
All of our depots have functional perimeter alarms and state of the art CCTV.